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Fire Safety Program

Our goal is to reduce death and injuries due to residential fires in rural Alaska through increased smoke alarm use and fire safety through prevention education. Functional smoke alarms and basic home fire safety and prevention procedures are even more important in rural Alaska where many of our communities have little or no fire fighting protection.

Through the assistance of partners around the state, rural communities at risk for residential fires will be canvassed door-to-door to check existing smoke alarms and to install new smoke alarms as needed. The educational component that accompanies the home smoke alarm check and installation includes areas such as fire escape planning and practice, safe cooking methods, dealing with children and fire, safer smoking in the home, home heating equipment and combustibles.

Project Goal

To reduce death and injuries due to residential fires in rural Alaska through increased smoke alarm use and fire safety and prevention education.

Problem Statement

Every year Alaska loses citizens to residential fire. Human loss and suffering due to residential fires are often preventable when homes have a working smoke alarm or when home occupants follow basice fire safety and prevention procedures. Functional smoke alarms and basic home fire safety and prevention procedures are even more important in rural Alaska where many of our communities have little or no fire fighting protection.

Strategies and Activities

With the assistance of partners around the state, rural communities at risk for residential fire, based on previous incidence rates and community demographics, will be canvassed door-to-door to check on functions of existing smoke alarms and to install new smoke alarms as needed.

The educational component that accompanies the home smoke alarm check and installation includes: home fire escape planning and practice; safe cooking methods; dealing with children and fire; safer smoking in the home; smoke alarm maintenance; and checking for safe use of electricity, appropriate use of home heating equipment, and combustibles. Similar prevention education will be conducted through community and school presentations.

Cost

The cost of each alarm is about $16.00. Additional program costs are variable due to transportation and personnel costs for each community.